Wednesday, January 2, 2013

Much to my husband's chagrin, on days that I know I won't be leaving the house, I nearly always stay in my pajamas. Although he just shakes his head at me when he walks in the door after work, why should I put on clothes when I'm perfectly comfy in my pj's?

However, even with my extensive jammy love, that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate having the option to open my closet and find high quality, timeless articles of clothing as well. After all, on the days that I do get dressed, I go directly for pieces that mix a relaxed, carefree feel with a bit of dressy, stylish fashion sense. If I can be comfortable while looking good, well, that might just be even better than my pajamas after all.

While I can easily walk into any department store or through the mall to find those articles of clothing to spruce up my wardrobe, they can often start to all look pretty much the same... not to mention that I cringe when I look at the price tags.

Even when I find a company that understands how to dress a woman's body in a way that is flattering, feminine, colorful and fashionable, it just pains me to have to spend an arm and a leg on one item.

Which is why as soon as I was introduced to Seg'ments from C&O Apparel Inc., it was easy to see that their dedication to creating affordable, feel-good, Merino Wool products that women want to wear every day comes through with each and every piece of apparel they offer!

A clothing manufacturing and wholesale distribution company located in Vancouver, Canada, C&O Apparel is a leading manufacturer of casual sportswear and technical activewear. With a passion for what they do and a commitment to offering customers quality workmanship and exceptional value, every piece of clothing C&O Apparel produces is one that you are going to want to find in your closet.

With a variety of brands under their wing, C&O Apparel's Seg'ments line answers the need every woman has for contemporary and stylish fashion basics. These hardworking pieces look as great on their own as they do layered under jackets or sweaters and come in a wide variety of styles, necklines and sleeve lengths.

As they use only the highest quality fabrics and work to ensure that every finishing detail is done right, Seg'ments is an easy choice when it comes to fashion essentials.

While I had heard of Merino Wool before (that it was durable and comfortable, yet quite expensive), I had never experienced it in person. So, when a long sleeve and short sleeve version arrived from Seg'ments, I was excited to see just what all of the fuss was about.

Made right in Canada, these 100% Merino Wool tops immediately caught my eye with their vivid, bright colors (they are available in purple and black as well as the pink and blue that I received).

As I unfolded each of them, the smooth, silky feeling and soft, luxurious texture was instantly evident. No wonder I've seen folks rave about this must-have fabric!

It didn't take long for both of these pieces to become favorites of mine, as everything from the moisture-wicking and temperature regulation to the breathable, all-climate usage has proven to be just what I look for in clothing. These shirts keep me warm when it's cold, yet I haven't at all felt overheated when heading indoors into the warmth.

At the same time, this super-soft wool resists odors and stains, is quick-drying (I'm not the only one who finds themselves being splashed every time my kids come near a sink, am I?), and, most importantly, is machine washable. I love that these tops have a high-end look and feel, yet can be tossed into the washing machine along with everything else that I own!

I have worn each of these shirts on their own as well as layered and all questions as to why Merino Wool has so many fans have been erased. While Seg'ments recommends ordering so that these tops are worn fitted right next to your skin (they feel so nice and smooth!), I've been happy having ordered a size larger so that they leave a bit of room.

Either way, they feel fantastic and I love the way that they take the look of a regular shirt and turn it into a functional, fashionable piece of apparel! Even better, knowing that Merino Wool is a sustainable resource makes me like it even that much more!

Seg'ments apparel has already been a great success in Canada, so right now Costco stores here in the U.S. have decided to test them out to see what the market reaction will be. Available in the four color options in long sleeve and short sleeve, these tops come in sizes S-XXL.

But, wait. There's more. A few quick searches online easily show that 100% Merino Wool is such a great fabric that it sells for a premium. Makes sense, right? I found similar shirts to these from other companies with minimum price tags in the $70-$90 range.

But not Seg'ments! Costco customers will find them marked approximately $17.99 for long sleeve and $15.99 for short sleeve! We're talking a fraction of the price when the quality cannot be differentiated!

If you are looking to add a few versatile, high quality, all-climate, stylish pieces to your wardrobe for 2013, head to your local Costco and see if Seg'ments are available. You won't be sorry!

Remember though, as they are currently just testing to see how much we love this apparel in the U.S., it is only going to be in some Costco warehouses around the country. Feel free to call your local store and ask if they have Seg'ments (item #701366 for the short-sleeve and #701327 for the long-sleeve) in stock if you want to make sure before getting in your car to go snatch one up!

When it comes to high quality and low prices (two things we all love), C&O Apparel has found just the right balance with their Seg'ments collection. I'm telling you, if these are at your Costco, give them a look and feel for yourself and you'll see why I'm hooked!

Thanks to the generosity of C&O Apparel, one person will soon be able to look classically fashionable as well, because...

A big thank you to C&O Apparel for providing two Seg'ments tops for me to review as well as the shirt of choice for one lucky giveaway winner. The opinions shared are my own and honest and if you really need to see more, click here to see how I roll.

It is unseasonably cold here in Southern California -- 10PM and it's 41 degrees -- people in other parts of the country are probably laughing at me, you think that's cold -- so you saying these things are warm sounds real good to me.

My favorite feature is the temperature regulation. I haven't been able to wear sweaters or long sleeve shirts for awhile (after having my baby i was hot constantly) and am just now able to kinda control my temperature. I would love to be able to wear a nice shirt like these to work again.